The Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center was originally a grant to United Cerebral Palsy. The parents who were over the grant were also part of that original group of parents who attended the statewide conference in 1988 that created Act 378. When RFP's were put out for the Families Helping Families Resource Centers, this group of parents wrote and was awarded the funding to open up the resource center in Jefferson Parish to serve regions 1 and 10.

They then went to UCP and ask if they would allow them to bring the grant to FHF and were granted permission. LaPTIC maintains strong relationship with FHF Regional Centers. However, FHF of Jefferson is the only FHF Center with LaPTIC staff. In 2008, when the Board of Directors voted to register a trade name for FHF, they also voted to change the name of Project PROMPT to Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center.

LaPTIC is Louisiana's only statewide US Department of Education, Office of Special Education (OSEP) funded Parent Center. Parent Centers provide training and assistance to the families of the nation's 7 million children with disabilities. Every state has at least one Parent Center, and those with large populations may have more. There are currently 104 Parent Centers in the United States.

LaPTIC serves families of children who are ages birth to 26 and (are undiagnosed) or suspected of having or are known to have a disability or health condition or the mildness or severity of the disability or condition. We provide a variety of services including peer to peer support and assistance, training opportunities, resources and referrals. LaPTIC staff are all parents of children with disabilities, so we are able to bring personal experience, expertise and empathy when working with families.

Specifically, Parents Centers help families to:

better understand their children's disabilities and education needs

communicate more effectively with school and related personnel

understand their rights and responsibilities under the IDEA

obtain appropriate services for their children

resolve disagreements with the school or other agencies

connect with other community resources that assist children with disabilities

Parent Centers work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. They collect and share data from their work experience that leads to improved practices in serving children and youth with disabilities.